Trailblazing sports broadcaster Hazel Irvine honoured with special BAFTA award

Trailblazing sports broadcaster Hazel Irvine was honoured with a special BAFTA award at the recent BAFTA Scotland awards ceremony in Glasgow. The 59-year-old received the Outstanding Contribution to Television award in recognition of her nearly 40 years as a sports presenter. Hazel expressed her delight as she accepted the award, thanking those who supported her throughout her career. She reminisced about her beginnings at Radio Clyde in 1986 and her pioneering role as one of the UK’s first female football pundits for STV’s Sportscene in 1987.

Throughout her illustrious career, Hazel has covered 18 Winter and Summer Olympics, as well as golf, snooker, and Ski Sunday. Her impressive list of credits includes four World Cup Finals, the London Marathon, Grandstand, and Wimbledon. Overwhelmed by the honour, Hazel stated that joining the list of previous award recipients was a tremendous privilege.

Among the other winners at the awards ceremony was Ashley Storrie, who dedicated her award to her late mother, comedian Janey Godley. Emotionally accepting the award for Writer Film/Television, Ashley expressed her gratitude to her co-writer and reflected on her journey from making Facebook videos to becoming a BAFTA-winning writer.

The evening also saw casting director Des Hamilton receiving an Outstanding Contribution to Craft award, presented by Sons of Anarchy star Tommy Flanagan. The News & Current Affairs award went to Disclosure’s program, Catching a Killer: The Murder of Emma Caldwell, which exposed a flawed police inquiry leading to justice for the victims.

The star-studded event was attended by notable personalities such as A Place in the Sun presenter Danni Menzies, Sanjeev Kohli, and Dougray Scott, among others. The awards recognised various categories including Documentary, Entertainment, Writer, Actress, Actor, and Director in both fiction and factual genres.

In summary, Hazel Irvine’s exceptional contribution to television was celebrated at the BAFTA Scotland awards, alongside other talented individuals in the industry. The event highlighted the outstanding work and dedication of Scottish talents across various entertainment sectors, showcasing the diversity and creativity within the industry.